The Thai Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that a general election, earlier scheduled for February 2, may be legally postponed to a later date, which is yet to be fixed by the Election Commission and the caretaker government.
The Constitutional Court reached an unanimous decision in favor of the polling agency which had requested for the rescheduling of the nationwide polls following earlier unrests in the capital and southern provinces caused by anti-government protesters, who have intended to disrupt the nationwide polls and to force acting premier Yingluck Shinawatra to step down in the last few months.
The acting premier and Election Commission chief Supachai Somcharoen are obliged to consult with each other and set a new polling date for which a royal decree is yet to be issued, according to the court's ruling. Both are expected to discuss the issue very shortly.
The polling agency, which had repeatedly expressed fears that unrests and violence would likely occur at polling units throughout the country if the race to parliament remained unchanged on February 2, suggested that the polling date be put off until May 4.
The acting premier, who dissolved parliament and called a snap election in the wake of the massive protests organized by former deputy premier Suthep Thaugsuban, delegated acting labor minister Chalerm Yubamrung to take charge of the government's Center for Maintaining Peace and Order under emergency rule effective in all districts of the capital and outlying provinces.
Despite the state of emergency, which will last 60 days from Wednesday, Yingluck commented that the authorities will not use force against the protesters and assured that atrocities of 2010 will not be repeated.
Nearly 100 people, mostly being Red Shirt demonstrators, were killed and about 2,000 others injured in major Bangkok streets during army crackdowns at the orders of the now-defunct Center for Resolution of Emergency Situation, chaired at the time by former premier Abhisit Vejjajiva and Suthep
Source: Englishnews.cn
